Google exec joins Ask.com

Cesar Mascaraque, an executive at Google, has left the company to work for Ask.com as European managing director. His reason? "Ask.com is the fastest growing search engine". Really? Over the last two months at least, Ask has been losing ground according to Hitwise. In fact, Google is the only one that consistently gains ground from month to month.

"I have watched the brand set itself apart from competitors by pioneering new products and offering innovative ways of bringing search to users," he said.

"I look forward to working with the international teams to build on this already successful model." -- Cesar Mascaraque

Aside from the reasoning, it is great to see Ask continually stepping forward to challenge Google -- competition is good, and if anyone can give Google a run for their money, Ask.com can.